Joseph and Hyrum Smith Death Masks

thingiverse

Before death photography became widespread, people created casts or impressions of deceased individuals to preserve their facial features for eternity. These replicas served as templates for recreating the person's likeness in portraits and sculptures that would be remembered for generations. These 3D scans showcase the death masks of Joseph (1805-1844) and Hyrum (1800-1844) Smith. As seen in the accompanying images, both laser and photogrammetry scanning techniques were employed to capture plaster casts of the original death masks. The laser scan captured significantly more details, making it the superior choice for 3D printing. The finished 3D prints were created at actual size on a Prusa i3 MK3 (.2mm) 3D printer. They were printed at an angled position with the chin facing upwards and supports strategically placed on the back side.